Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers (Portable Mind remix)

I just registered with Indaba Music, a collaborative music site. They have a weekly remix contest for the members. This week, Peter Gabriel announced a contest where you get to remix the song Games Without Frontiers with all the original tracks. You can add any non-copyrighted or original material to make your mix.

I am not, by any means, a pro at this, but I have dabbled in it for a while now. Just the thrill of working with professional material from a classic song was plain awesome. For my mix, I chose a more minimalistic approach. It was a great learning opportunity and I will most surely participate in other similar projects.

As you browse the other entries to the contest, check out the remix from my friend Robert Marchand. Now THAT is what a pro can come up with!!!

Circa Survive - Imaginary Enemy

I just love these guys.

John Mayall - The Supernatural

This is a sneaky post. I don't really want to talk about John Mayall. I do want to talk about Peter Green, an amazing and influential guitar virtuoso who influenced the blues and rock worlds. But sometimes, genius is not a gift. Most of us know the sad story of Syd Barrett and his work with Pink Floyd; his drug abuse and psychotic episodes, his brain too busy playing tricks on him. Peter Green experienced the lure of Timothy Leary's magic medication. He also went through long periods of psychiatric problems. Nonetheless, his influence was tremendous. The list of musicians reads like a who's who of rock and blues heaven.

The piece The Supernatural is one of his first instrumental pieces as a member of John Mayall's band The Bluesbreakers.

You may not be aware, but you know more of Peter Green than you might think. He left The Bluesbreakers with two other members to form a band that is still well-known today. But let's just look at a short chronology of the Bluesbreakers to understand the depth of musicians that, at one time or another passed through Mayall's legendary band. After he left The Yardbirds to play the blues with John Mayall, Eric Clapton moved on with co-Bluesbreaker Jack Bruce to form the band Cream with Ginger Baker. That is when Peter Green hitched up. He later left to form a band with two other Bluesbreakers, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. The band was called Fleetwood Mac. When Green left, Mick Taylor hopped aboard but also left and joined The Rolling Stones.

As you can see, The Bluesbreakers were a great place to network! By the way, Jimmy Page also produced one of the Bluesbreakers' singles, "I'm Your Witchdoctor".

Blues living legend B.B. King once said of Green, "He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats." That is possibly the greatest testimonial a guitarist can get.

Now, how do you know Peter Green? Well, he composed Black Magic Woman, later made popular (understatement, really!) by Santana.

John Mayall - The Supernatural

Elsiane - Mend (To Fix, To Repair)

Tonight, we're going real mellow. Elsiane is the name of a duo made up of Elsieanne Caplette, a native Peruvian who immigrated to Montreal, and Stéphane Sotto, self_taught musician and artist.

I discovered the album Hybrid (2007) because of the CD cover. I thought, "Hmmm, strange, gotta take this to the listening station." I was totally captivated. I love to put this CD on when I need to escape the stress of a hectic day.

Elsiane - Mend (To Fix, To Repair)

Amy Macdonald - Run

Ach! Scotland loves their music. Be it punk, folk or just plain kickass rock, they love it. And they support their artists. Amy Macdonald's music brings me back to the 70's folk sound; lyrics that stand out like poetry set to music, guitar strumming and a voice that strikes a difference.

I am highlighting the song Run although it was not the song from the album that rose highest on the charts. I just think it has more emotion than the other tracks.

Amy Macdonald - Run

Phantogram - Let Me Go

Thank you Shayne!!!! I love my kids. As much as I bring new music to them, they will introduce me to some very interesting (and good) artists.

High school friends Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel got together in 2007 to explore the musical side of their artistic projects. After a few singles and two EPs, they published their first album Eyelid Movies. Not rock, not really electronica, somewhat alternative, definitely pop following newer tendencies. One thing, it is undeniably good.

Phantogram - Let Me Go

Angus & Julia Stone - Hold On

After supporting each other's solo performances, this brother and sister duo from Sydney finally pooled their efforts. This is their second album as a duo. The quirky folky voice stylings give the songs a very personal touch. It seems as if their solo performances have followed through to this CD. The songs alternate between Angus and Julia vocals. Don't look for anything beyond smooth and very listenable moody folk sounds.

I'm highlighting one of Julia's songs, Hold On, a very airy love song.

Angus & Julia Stone - Hold On